Speakers

John Buttanshaw, partner, operational risk & environment, co-head of ESG & impact, Travers Smith
John regularly advises on a range of ‘real world’ compliance and risk management matters – from human rights, safety and welfare through to business ethics and financial crime.

A true expert in the field, John advises on contentious and non-contentious matters across the spectrum of environmental, safety, planning and sector specific regulatory laws. On the non-contentious side, John has particular expertise in permitting and licensing on major energy and infrastructure projects, where his cross-function regulatory capability is invaluable. John also has extensive experience in areas including product and chemical compliance, safety risk management and climate change regulation. On the contentious side, John has worked on matters ranging from major Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive enforcement actions through to cross-border product recalls and product liability claims.

John also has extensive experience in advising clients (particularly in the investment sector) on an array of wider risk and governance matters. These range from anti-bribery and corruption, modern slavery and other business ethics issues, through to export controls, sanctions and market access considerations.

Varnika Chawla, director, legal, Climate Asset Management
Varnika Chawla is a Director, Legal at Climate Asset Management, an asset manager with AUM of over USD1 billion focused exclusively on natural capital, where she leads the legal function on capital raising, deployment, carbon transactions and asset management. A dual-qualified solicitor, Varnika’s expertise focuses on voluntary carbon markets, biodiversity, and international tax through a private equity lens.

In her role at Climate Asset Management, Varnika uses this specialized knowledge to advise on sustainable finance projects. A significant part of her work involves ensuring capital is directed towards regions most affected by climate change, translating complex regulatory requirements related to ESG, voluntary carbon markets, and international tax in the UK and EU into actionable solutions tailored for emerging markets and stakeholders.

Her work has gained global recognition as she won the Legal500 ESG Rising Star Award (2025) and the Environmental Finance Rising Star Award (2024). Varnika also leads the cluster on “Legal Aspects of Nature-based Solutions” with the Climate Change Law Specialist Group, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law.

Joshua Domb, founder, Gen-R Law
Joshua Domb is the founder of Gen-R Law, a climate and ESG-focused law firm based in London. Joshua advises on a range of topics in the ESG space, with a particular focus on compliance, greenwashing, supply chain risk and the integration of ESG into business operations. He also provides ESG and climate literacy training for senior leadership and Legal teams.

Before pivoting to open Gen-R Law, Joshua worked at a leading American law firm as a White Collar Crime lawyer. He leverages that expertise to help clients understand how corporate shortcomings on climate change and ESG can expose an organisation to legal, regulatory and reputational risks.

Heather Gagen, head of dispute resolution, co-head of ESG & impact, Travers Smith
Heather has a broad commercial litigation practice, covering the spectrum of high-value and complex disputes (including large scale group claims). This experience includes disputes which concern ESG issues, including environmental damage, human rights and product liability claims. Heather has particular experience in novel and large-scale tort claims, including “parent company liability” claims. She is highly experienced in claims involving international and foreign law elements. Her clients include corporates, multinational organisations, banks, financial institutions and private equity houses with business interests across a broad range of sectors.

Adam Heppinstall KC, barrister, Henderson Chambers
Adam Heppinstall KC is a Barrister at Henderson Chambers. He particularly specialises in group actions in the High Court.

These have ranged from pharmaceutical product liability, through environmental damage, to more recently, modern slavery, gender-based violence and human rights abuses.

Many have an international mass tort element, encompassing jurisdictional challenges, the UNGPs/OECD Guidelines, and increasingly, greenwashing and climate change.

Mark Maurice-Jones, general counsel & compliance officer, UK & Ireland, Nestlé
Mark Maurice-Jones leads a team of 15 staff dedicated to shaping the agenda of Nestlé UK & Ireland through proactive business partnerships and driving a culture of integrity. He advises on many elements of ESG and is a member of Nestle UK & Ireland’s ESG “Force for Good” Committee. Before joining Nestlé Mark worked for 15 years with Kimberly-Clark in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Mark started his legal career as a competition lawyer with international law firms in London and Brussels.

Simon Pugh, partner, Portland Communications
Simon leads Portland Communication’s Litigation and Disputes team, working alongside lawyers, barristers, and other disputes professionals to provide strategic communications support on litigation and contentious issues to legal teams and their clients. Based in London but working across jurisdictions, Simon has advised on a broad range of disputes, including extensive experience in ESG-related litigation and group proceedings. Simon produces an annual research report for Portland analysing the UK public’s perceptions of ESG, class actions, and securities litigation.

Stephen Townley, chair of the advisory board, Global Sustainable Sport
Stephen has combined a career in business and the law. In business he has served as general counsel, board member and chairman of private and public companies. In law he is a solicitor. He was founder and senior partner of the international law firm Townleys, which was recognised as a trailblazer in the evolution of the sports industry. He is known more recently as a tech founder and investor as well as for using skills acquired as a practicing arbitrator, mediator and international neutral at JAMS and WIPO. He is committed to promote ADR to improve longevity and sustainability in business relationships.

Oliver Wright, sustainability manager, Clyde & Co
Oliver sits within Clyde & Co’s Responsible Business team as Sustainability Manager, helping the firm to reach its global Net Zero targets and broader sustainability goals through a variety of programmes and engagement with colleagues, clients and suppliers. Prior to joining Clyde & Co in 2023 he gained over 15 years’ experience in sustainability across the private, public and third sectors, including consultancy, facilities management, community engagement and policy advisory roles, following an academic background in mechanical and environmental engineering.

Clint Wilson, co-head of legal, GuarantCo
Clint Wilson brings over a decade of global legal financial services and development experience to his role at GuarantCo, a leading development finance institution backed by several governments. Since joining GuarantCo, Clint has been instrumental in facilitating credit enhancement and risk mitigation solutions to mobilise private sector investment into infrastructure focussed on accelerating climate action and sustainable development where most urgently needed in emerging markets.

Earlier in his career, Clint held roles with top-tier financial institutions and blue chip corporates, where he honed his legal skills in project structuring, governance, and cross-border transactions. His academic background includes a law degree from the University of Cape Town, and he remains recognised as one of Chambers & Partners’ 2019 Global GC Influencers – Top 100.

Clint is passionate about innovative financing models that unlock sustainable growth in developing economies. On the panel today, he offers a strategic perspective grounded in both institutional expertise and real-world impact.

Clare Connellan, partner, White & Case
Clare Connellan co-leads White & Case’s Sustainability & Responsible Business group and is also a partner in the International Arbitration group. She advises on sustainability-related legislation, dispute resolution, business and human rights, supply chain governance, and corporate disclosures. Clare has particular experience leading pan-European teams on EU sustainability regulation and compliance with the UN Guiding Principles, OECD Guidelines, and the UK Modern Slavery Act. She provides pro bono support on human rights issues for multistakeholder initiatives and holds sustainability certifications from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and the Oxford Sustainable Business Programme at Saïd Business School.

Stephen Shergold, partner, White & Case
Stephen Shergold is a partner in White & Case’s global Sustainability and Responsible Business group and leads the Environment sub-group in London. He advises on environmental law and ESG, with a focus on regulatory compliance, litigation, and corporate defence. His practice spans climate change, pollution, biodiversity, decarbonisation, and health and safety. Recognised as a Band 1 leader in Environment & Climate Change by Chambers and in Legal 500’s Hall of Fame, Stephen is widely regarded as a thought leader in ESG. In 2025, his team won “Best Law Firm Advisory Team in Environmental Protection” at the Legal 500 UK ESG Awards.

Christopher Wenn, senior associate, Burges Salmon
Chris is a senior associate in the Dispute Resolution team. He is part of the firm’s ESG strategy group and has a special interest in climate -related litigation and greenwashing.

He has a particular interest and experience acting for clients on disputes in the energy and utilities and financial services sectors.

Chris has acted on successful proceedings in the High Court and has experience of ADR, including resolution of matters through mediation. He is also familiar with arbitration proceedings, having advised clients in both LCIA and ICC arbitrations.

Ben Stansfield, sustainability partner, Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
Ben is one of the UK’s leading lawyers practising planning and environmental law. He advises clients in the public, private, and third sectors on all aspects of development, including infrastructure projects, and has particular expertise and experience at the intersection of development and environmental protection. Ben is one of the leading lawyers in relation to biodiversity net gain (BNG), and has acted for landowners, habitat banks, a Responsible Body, and developers subject to BNG requirements.

Ben is the former Vice Chair of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA) and was a Trustee for UKELA for eight years and speaks internationally on UK and European sustainability issues. He is also one of the few lawyers recommended for both planning and environmental law in the principal legal directories.

Holly Browne, associate director, Anthesis Group
Holly is the Apparel Sector Lead at Anthesis UK. With nearly 20 years’ experience both in house in fashion brands, as well as in consultancy, Holly works with a diverse range of both UK based and global fashion and apparel clients from across the value chain, spanning the luxury and high street space. She supports them to navigate the complex global sustainability environment that they are operating in, including consideration of materials, fibres, global legislation, green claims, supply chains, circularity, human rights, climate and nature.

Ella Stolwerk, real estate associate, Addleshaw Goddard

Ella Stolwerk is an associate in the real estate team at Addleshaw Goddard with a strong interest in ESG and its impact on the commercial property sector. Previously, she was legal counsel at Swedish multinational fashion retailer H&M, where she worked on ESG-related issues across international supply chains. Ella has both in-house and private practice experience and a keen understanding of how sustainability, social responsibility, and regulatory developments are shaping today’s legal and commercial landscape.

Jessica Eilts, managing legal counsel, NatWest
Jessica Eilts is a Managing Legal Counsel – Sustainability Policy & Advisory Lead at NatWest. Jessica advises on the bank’s sustainability policies, assists with management of ESG legal risks and manages engagement on internal and external policy debates. Jessica joined NatWest in 2021 prior to which she worked at Clifford Chance.

Harriet Naylor, head of global legal, Inchcape Shipping Services

Efthalia Sarri, counsel | ESG, financial regulation & governance

Efthalia is a senior, dual (EU/UK) qualified financial services lawyer with a strong regulatory background and expertise in sustainable finance law, regulatory reform and governance. Most recently, she served as Head of Legal, Products at Capital One, leading on legal regulatory strategy and support across product development, payments, data, open banking, and ESG, including the development of the firm’s UK ESG governance framework. Prior to that, she held the role of Sustainable Finance Legal Counsel at UBS, advising on the legal implementation of ESG regulations and sustainability strategy, across the Group. Before that, Efthalia held senior roles at the Financial Conduct Authority, in the Enforcement, Markets Oversight and General Counsel Divisions. Her experience across private practice, in-house, and the FCA, gives Efthalia a well-rounded and forward-looking perspective on the legal and governance challenges facing the financial sector.

Eline Tukker, legal counsel supply chain & sustainability, Diageo Nederland B.V.

Eline is an Amsterdam-based experienced legal counsel specializing in supply, sustainability, and commercial compliance across global markets. At Diageo, she plays a central role in guiding supply chain legal strategy and supporting the company’s ESG goals. Drawing from over a decade of legal experience across industries and jurisdictions—including Benelux, Nordics, MENA, and the UK—Eline brings a pragmatic, business-focused perspective to navigating regulatory complexity, supply chain risk, and sustainability obligations.

Laura Halstead, head of funds and sustainability, Octopus Energy Generation

Laura joined Octopus in 2017 and oversees the Funds, Finance, Operations and ESG teams. She is a Board Director of the fund management business and Irish AIFM and a standing member of the Investment Committee. Laura has led on the set up of nine new funds, including a new semi-liquid product aimed at the DC market, the listing of Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust, an investment trust on the LSE and private open and close-ended funds. Laura leads on the ESG and Sustainability strategy across all funds and brings experience and knowledge on UK and EU Sustainability regulation including SFDR and EU Taxonomy with four funds classified as Article 9 under SFDR and one achieving a Sustainable Focus label under SDR. She is also the Fund Manager for Asian Energy Impact Trust. Before joining, Laura’s most significant position was at Deloitte LLP where she spent 11 years in consulting specialising in business transformation, programme management, change management and business planning. Laura holds a first-class degree in Economics (BSc) from Nottingham University.

Matthew Townsend, partner, A&O Shearman

Matt Townsend is Co-Head of the Global Environmental and Climate Law Group at A&O Shearman and Head of the London team. He has advised on environmental, climate and broader sustainability matters including in the context of corporate and real estate transactions, projects and finance-related matters, and has practised in this area for almost 30 years. Matt’s expertise includes advising on issues arising from climate change/carbon trading, circular economy programmes, supply chain risk management, greenwashing reviews and enforcement, sustainability governance, renewable power projects, the transfrontier shipment of hazardous products, and international conventions on pollution, safety and sustainability.

Most recently, Matt has been working with clients on assessing the emerging ESG and sustainability regulatory landscape and assisting to develop compliance programmes. He is also supporting clients in areas such as reporting and disclosure, climate litigation, transition planning, carbon markets and the impact of the EU’s Green Deal.

Matt is a member of the Senior Advisory Board to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development; the International Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainability Committee; the FLMC’s ESG Working Group; the City of London Law Society’s environmental working group; a member of an Advisory Board to the EBRD on ESG guidelines for companies in the CEE region; advising Editor of Environmental Liability journal; a member of the Executive Committee of the Legal Sustainability Alliance; an appointed member of the Bank of England’s/FCA’s Climate Disclosure Group; a member of City UK’s ESG Working Group and a member of the City of London Law Society ESG Committee.

Matt was named ESG Champion of the Year at the Legal 500 UK ESG Awards 2025 and is widely recognised as one of Europe’s leading environmental lawyers and a thought leader for climate change-related regulation.

Danae Wheeler, senior associate, A&O Shearman

Danae is a Senior Associate in A&O Shearman’s Global Environmental and Climate Law Group. She specialises in environmental, sustainability and regulatory law with a particular focus on advisory and reporting matters relating to climate change, sustainability and supply chains.

Danae works with multinational corporations and financial institutions on a range of sustainability-related matters including corporate reporting and disclosure (CSRD), due diligence in value chains (CS3D and EUDR), climate transition plans and advising clients on the EU Taxonomy and managing human rights risks and stakeholder engagement (CS3D). This includes horizon-scanning and planning with respect to current and future ESG regulations in the jurisdictions they operate in. Prior to joining A&O, Danae worked for a leading New Zealand law firm where she advised several New Zealand companies on the first climate change-related litigation filed in New Zealand against corporate emitters citing New Zealand’s international obligations. She has advised the boards of Australasian financial institutions on compliance with Australia’s Modern Slavery Act, climate risk and the implications of global climate change litigation.

Danae was shortlisted for the ESG Rising Star of the Year award at the Legal 500 UK ESG Awards 2025.

Nadir Koudsi, senior associate, Houthoff

Nadir handles complex commercial and insolvency law disputes, including international mass claims proceedings and directors’ and officers’ liability cases. He specializes in civil liability risks related to climate change litigation and regularly advises on ESG-related liability and contractual risks. This includes supply chain due diligence, financial and sustainability disclosures, and D&O liability risks associated with climate change.

Nadir frequently lectures on various topics of Dutch law, with a primary focus on ESG and civil liability. He also publishes regularly and is co-author of a widely read annual review on directors’ liability for the year 2024.

Punam Mehta, general counsel, Longevity Partners

Punam Mehta is Group General Counsel at Longevity Partners, a global, multi-disciplinary energy and sustainability consultancy for the built environment. Prior to joining Longevity, Punam was Assistant General Counsel at Marsh McLennan and has 10+ years’ experience across industry and private practice of managing complex commercial litigation, commercial/corporate, data protection and IP matters, and more recently advising on ESG issues. Punam is on the advisory board of an NGO and a keen advocate for ESG.

Anna Bauböck, senior editor, Legal 500

Anna is a senior editor who joined Legal 500 in 2012, has worked across a multitude of regions and juggled various responsibilities. After many years of expanding the Deutschland rankings, she spent two years as US editor, and then as DACH and Benelux editor. Most recently, in 2025, she has taken on oversight over the entire EMEA rankings. In 2021, she also launched the Global Green Guide examining the legal sector’s engagement with sustainability and climate action which continues in the form our Green Ambassador research.

Tom Mason, biodiversity lead, Nature Positive